PA-A-A-R-R-A-M-M-M-M PI-I-I-I-T-A-A-A BA-BA-A -A-KI-I-I-I-I!!!!!
"As long as you exist, you have to perform service. The moment you stop, you will fall into an abyss. You should not do this! It is your nature to carry yourself from narrowness to vastness, from greatness to divinity. It is against your nature to allow yourself to fall into an abyss. You long for eternal bliss, you endeavour for eternal life, and you are fused with that very unending life in the circulation of your blood and in the rhythmic vibrations of the contractions of your heart. You have been listening day and night to the voice of eternal youth. In the state of Supreme Attainment and Supreme Realization, you will be infused with boundless knowledge. O human being! Be established in the radiance of godliness, in manliness, because yours is a path of a revolution. Yours is not a path of extra caution and hesitant movement. You are travellers on a difficult path. You have to march ahead, with head held high and with your chest forward. You have not a moment to stagger or look behind."
Shrii Shrii Ananda Murtiji
I spent most of the month of June in Ananda Kanan preparing for the summer retreat and teaching yoga classes in West Plains, Missouri. During the month the region was active, with many different activities in the units.
News from the Albany Unit
Most Albany unit margiis are students and when the school year ends, they join their families. The remaining few margiis try to hold weekly Dharma cakra. Dada Viveka and 4 – 5 others continue in regular attendance.
News from the New York Unit
Our newly posted Didi writes: “I am Didi Ananda Laghima, recently posted to the New York office in charge of WWD and DSL New York. I am looking forward to working in the Boston region and meeting you all. Although I worked in this region fifteen years ago, I would like to get to know everyone again and meet new margiis. We had a three hour Sadhana shivir in the Didis’ jagriti on June 7 th. There were 35 people and all enjoyed an inspiring satsaunga with dinner. I visited Boston from July 12 th – 14 th. On the evening of the 12 th we had meditation and satsaunga with several women. On the 14 th we had Dharma Cakra at Keval Kumar’s. I also visited Timir’s family. It was a wonderful experience for me to meet Boston margiis and have some programs together. I am looking forward to future visits to different units.” (Thank you Didi.)
News from White Plains
Dada Gunamaya and Nirainjana will both be presenters at the youth organized Climate Confluence scheduled for the end of July at a picturesque Methodist retreat center just outside of New Paltz. This five day gathering is a chance to network with folks about an alternative economic model, regional self-sufficiency, and working together to help heal our planet. We are looking for margiis to join us so that we can infuse this progressive gathering with our collective positive vibrations. If you are planning to attend, please e-mail nirainjana.
Nirainjana and Dinesh are purchasing their first home, a town house in the city of White Plains. Margiis and acaryas are welcome to attend the house warming on
Saturday, July 26th at 6:30 PM.(postponed-new date TBA) Come learn about the history of the hill where our home was built, the farmland of the Weckquaeskeck people, members of the Mohican nation, and also the Stoney Hill Cemetery where the earliest freed slaves are buried and Horton's Mill, where George Washington stored ammunition during the American Revolution's Battle of White Plains in October, 1776. (Thank you sister Nirainjana)News from the Boston units
The Boston margiis were inspired by the visit of Dada Pranesh who gave a presentation on the Haiti projects and shared his views:
“I just want to share the news from my visit to Boston to make contacts to help Haiti. The Haitian margiis, especially brother Keval Kumar and Vishvanáth arranged everything, by Bábá's Grace, and we had a few successful programs and created good contacts for future cooperation.
“We gave two public presentations at a French speaking Masonic lodge in Boston which is composed of practically only Haitian members. The lodge members were very inspired with the work of AMURT Haiti and donated US$ 660 on the spot. Some specifically requested their money to go for teachers’ salaries while others gave a general donation. This is just the beginning. They have committed to keep helping us regularly through both cash collections and in-kind donations every three months or so. They will also personally encourage their friends in the USA and Haiti to get in touch with us for possible partnerships and support. Margiis from Boston will follow the guidance of Dada Gunamayaji and other acaryas coming to the region. Two of those present at the presentations are coming to Haiti this summer and have offered us places to stay in the country and help in organizing Ananda Marga activities. If we are able to have a monthly newsletter to propagate our good news to the Haitian community in this region much cooperation can unfold. Thanks Molly and Eric for the great flyers, slides, photos and maps!
“We also made contacts to be followed up at the MIT D-Lab (a department concerned with designing technologies specifically for developing countries) and the International Institute for Justice and Development, which has so far focused in helping many countries of Africa but whose members are happy to secure presence also in Haiti. Some public libraries, schools and individuals have also taken some of our materials to post on boards, online and to talk about AMURT Haiti with those interested in helping.
“Had I prepared better and coordinated beforehand with the margiis in the region we could have reached more people and presented more materials to all. But it was a good experience and great to learn a few lessons, such as, for example, the capacity of the intention of serving to pass through any door or institution and find attention and space, even if just a little, in any busy office. While getting in touch with so many contacts, it was so inspiring to see how every single person had demonstrated interest to learn more about AMURT/EL in Haiti and to help in whichever way they could, even if just for that moment. Following up with them will be a pleasure and hopefully some of you can join and enjoy as well!
“Hope to see some of you soon at the retreat and let us all enjoy our opportunity to have a human life dedicated to sadhana and service”
For more information contact
Ác. Prán´esha Brc.
AMURT Haiti Assistant Director
www.amurthaiti.org
skype: dadapranesha
cell phone: (509) 3805-9075News from the Westborough / Chelmsford Unit
The regular Dharma cakra brings satsaunga among the margiis every Sunday at 4:30 PM, with seven margiis and six children enjoying His bliss.
News from the Green Mountain State: Vermont
We held a unit meeting to discuss dharma pracar and service in our locale and identify steps we can take to expand/improve in these areas. The meditation class at the library in Montpelier ended in early June and many positive evaluations and comments were received by the instructor and the library. Fall classes are in the planning stages. Collections for Myanmar relief and weekly dharmacakras are continuing. We have been enjoying visits from out-of-state/country margiis and look forward to seeing more of our sisters and brothers at the Prabhat Samgiita retreat the first weekend in August. (Thank you sister Puspa)
News from Haiti, our sister region
Please read the CENEOH – Ananda Marga School in Haiti Annual Report or go to the school web site.
News from the Show Me State: Missouri
After arriving in the Garden of Bliss prior to the retreat, I had the opportunity to teach four yoga classes in West Plains, Missouri. This was good experience for me as most of the students were older and made it a challenging experience for me. I had to adjust most of the postures according to the capabilities of the students, who needed much guidance as you can see in the pictures.
“The flame of a lamp lights up countless lamps. The touch of a great personality wakes up innumerable sleeping hearts. In the same way, the eternal glow of the boundless élan vital of Cosmic Consciousness has been illuminating the life lamp of universal humanism since time immemorial, is illuminating and will do so in future even more intensely. That is why I say, the future of the human race is not dark, rather it is strikingly resplendent. So proceed on, ignoring the frown of darkness.”
Shrii Shrii Ananda Murtiji
Many thanks to all who always assist me in any form to make this newsletter available every month for the good of all Margiis inside and outside of the region, as well as the public.
Brotherly In Him,
Dada Gunamaya
R.S. BostonBack to top
A'sana means 'a position in which one feels comfortable' - 'Sthirasukhama'sanam.' A'sanas are a kind of exercise by regular practice of which the body stays healthy and hardy and many diseases are cured. But A'sanas are not prescribed for the general cure of decease; only those diseases which create trouble in the path of meditation may be cured by the help of specific A'sanas, so that Sa'dhana' (meditation) may more easily be done.
(Caryacarya part 3)Below you find two of three basic A'sana for women, they do not have restrictions of nostrils or diet (like all the other A'sanas have).
Yoga'sana or Yogamudra:
(Caryacarya 3, Asanas # 26)
Sit in Bhojana'sana ("food" a'sana: with legs crossed). Pass both hands backward and grip the left wrist with the right hand. Then bring the forehead and the nose into contact with the floor, breathing out during the process. Maintain this state for eight seconds and then rise up, breathing in. Practice eight times.
YogamudraBhu'jaunga'sana (Cobra)
(Caryacarya 3, Asanas # 20)
Lie down on your chest. Supporting the weight on the palms, raise the chest, directing your head backward. Look at the ceiling. Breathe in while rising, and after having risen, hold your breath for eight seconds. Come down to original position while breating out. Practise eight times.
Bhu'jaunga'sana (Cobra)
About a Sentient or Sa'ttvika Diet:
In every object of the universe, one of three attributes - Sattva (sentient), Rajah (mutative), and Tamah (static) - will always be predominant. So food is also divided into three categories according to the dominance of the attributes.
1) Sa'ttvika A'ha'ra (food): All foods that are beneficial to both body and mind are considered Sa'ttvika.
This group of foods includes fruits, most vegetables, beans and nuts, grains, milk and milk products, and moderate amounts of most herbs and spices. The sentient diet provides a wide variety of nutrients supplying proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and all the essential vitamins and minerals. A Sa'ttvika diet is required for those who practice A'sanas.
2) Ra'jasika A'ha'ra: Any food that is beneficial to the body but is neutral to the mind, or vice versa, is called Ra'jasika. In certain countries where there is heavy snowfall, Ra'jasika food can be treated as Sa'ttvika and Ta'masika food as Ra'jasika.
Included in this category are: caffeinated beverages such as coffee and tea, chocolate, hot spices such as red peppers, fermented foods, and some medicinal drugs. 3) Ta'masika A'ha'ra: All kinds of foods which are harmful to either the body or mind and may or may not be harmful to the other are called Ta'masika.The static foods include meat, fish, onion, garlic, eggs, mushrooms, alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, food that is fermented, stale or spoiled and the milk of the newly calved cow . These foods should be avoided by those who seek to attain health of body and elevation of mind.
Vegetable Chop Suey
Serves 6 1/2 C Carrots, diced small
1/2 C Celery, diced finely
2 - 3 shredded Chinese Cabbage or Bok Choy
1/2 C Sugar Snap Peas or other fresh or frozen Beans
1/2 C Green or Red Peppers, shopped
1 small can Bamboo Shoots
1 C Bean Sprouts
1/4 C Cashew or chopped Brazil Nuts
1 Can Baby Corn Spears
About 1/2 C Oil (for stir-frying)Any soft or firm vegetables (but not starchy) can be used in chop suey, e.g. string beans, peas, etc. (Be careful with leafy vegetables, as they burn easily.) The recipe below is only one example. Leftover cooked beans can also be added. The mixture should be very colorful. Marinate vegetables for at least an hour before cooking. Stir-fry vegetables quickly in hot oil, preferably using a wok (Chinese round-bottomed frying pan). Use an oil that can heat to high temperatures without chemical change (peanut or sesame oil). Use plenty of oil to prevent burning (allow oil to be at least 1 inch deep in the deepest part of the wok). Fry hard vegetables for 5 to 6 minutes, then add softer vegetables like fresh beans, bell peppers, and Chinese cabbage or bok choy, and fry 3 minutes more, adding the bean sprouts and the nuts only 1/2 minute before the end. Sprinkle with soy sauce and serve with rice or noodles, and tofu dishes. Save the marinade to use as a dip.
(From Vegetarian Food For All by Annabel Perkins)
Try more Delicious Recipes in:
Vijay's Sentient Kitchen
